Biodiesel and Ethanol

Pittsburgh Food Bank Fleet Switches to Biodiesel

PITTSBURGH --- The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank has started running its truck fleet on biodiesel pumped from a new 5,000-gallon tank in Duquesne, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

The new fueling station is part of the Pittsburgh Clean Cities "Clean Pump Initiative." The goal is to offer fleet and retail access to blended biodiesel and other alternative fuels in the region.

Historically, the food bank has used about 33,000 gallons of diesel fuel annually. Within the year, more biodiesel fueling stations are scheduled to open at Construction Junction in Point Breeze and Transportation Solutions, which serves the UPMC fleet, in Uptown.

The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank collects and distributes food through a 350-plus member network in 11 counties in southwestern Pennsylvania. Through food solicitation, fund raising, special events and community partnerships, the Food Bank gathers food at its 94,000-square-foot warehouse in Duquesne, Pa.

The food is then distributed through outlets such as soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, after-school programs, senior high rises, MH-MR drop-in centers, neighborhood food assistance agencies, emergency or disaster-related feeding sites, regional food banks, Meals on Wheels, community centers, and special programs. The Food Bank currently distributes around 18 million pounds of food per year.

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